Seals

University of Oregon Special Collections and University Archives

https://oregondigital.org/catalog/oregondigital:fx71cw93f

Deed, 1434 June 29, declaring that William Bokenham, Alexander Webster, and John Golle give to John Costyn, et al, land in Weasenham, 1434, Deed 001, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, Eugene, Oregon.

Deed 1 

Usually associated with its use in sealing legal documents, red wax offered so much more to people living in the late and post-medieval periods. Typically made from beeswax, resin, and red dye, it was common enough to be found in the everyday household.  In fact, instructions for daily use could be seen in books of household management which contained collections of experimental tips on how to use simple items for cosmetics, gardening, cooking, etc. One of these books, Hannah Woolley's The Accomplished Ladies Delight in Preserving, Physick, Beautifying, and Cookery (1675), prescribes red wax for preserving fish bait, as a beautifying face ointment, and as a cure for cloven nails.  

In the field of medicine, red wax operated as a cure for unbalanced humors in the body. Following the tradition of humoralism, red wax fell into the category of the "sanguine," meaning warm, wet, and blood-like. The goal of its use was to counter the "phlegmatic," meaning cold and dry, and therefore balance the humors. Recipes often had specific instructions for letting the wax stay out in the sun where it could soak up the natural heat and intensify the sanguine properties of the wax. Soap could be mixed with red wax to soothe gout, aches, and sciatica. 

Vermillion was the dye of choice due to its luxuriously bright and alluring hue. However, it was expensive to obtain so it was often mixed with lesser dyes such as red lead. Both vermillion and red lead are highly toxic materials.  

Of course, red wax was also employed more prosaically to authorize and seal legal documents, as seen here. Wax seals have been used since the 11th century, originally as colorless wax but eventually color was added to not only make the seal more impressive but also to strengthen the wax. Heated and stamped with engraved metal "dies," seals marked the authentication of documents by the authorizing party. 

Jack Peplinski